. >> he's been running on this tax plan for 18 months and now five weeks before the election he's saying that his big bold idea is never mind. >> reporter: the theme of the debate for president obama appeared to be romney's plan lacked specifics. >> the reason that governor romney is keeping all these plans to replace secret because they are too good? >> reporter: mitt romney spent most of the night attacking the president's record. >> you've been president for four years. you said you would cut the deficit in half. it's now four years. >> reporter: romney came into the debate trailing in the polls but that could change. >> any time a challenger stands on the stage with a president in the first debate they tend to get some bounce after that. i expect that could happen here. >> reporter: the romney campaign believes the governor scored a knockout. >> i believe romney was the clear winner of this debate. if it was a boxing match it would have been called. >> reporter: a cbs poll shows romney was the overwhelming winner. 46% of the people say romney won the debate while 22% said the preside